Fire & Water Damage
Restoration - Reconstruction
Remodeling & Commercial Tenant Improvements (TI)

Black mold in corner of garage from improper exterior wall flashing.

Water damage: Let's talk about mold. Water damage is not only from leaky pipes or overflowing toilets. A fire department responding to a building fire may use several large diameter hoses to extinguish the fire. A fire hose with a flow rate of 150 gallons per minute to extinguish the fire will leave significant water damage to the building . The perfect breeding ground for mold.

Stucco - Plaster: Do stucco - plaster houses have mold? Yes, they can have mold. The mold doesn't grow on the stucco - plaster, it grows on the 2 layers of 15# felt paper behind the stucco - plaster. The stucco exterior acts like a sponge. It soaks up water from rain or lawn sprinklers then the moisture is suppose to roll down the 2 layers of 15# felt paper behind the stucco to the bottom weep screed. Any moisture trapped between the 2 layers of 15# felt paper and stucco is the perfect breeding ground for mold.

Exterior Siding: Do houses with exterior siding have mold? Yes, they can have mold. The mold grows on the back side of the exterior siding and on the felt paper behind the exterior siding. The exterior siding for the most part repels the water from rain or lawn sprinklers if it is well maintained. However, once the exterior siding's paint starts to deteriorate and doesn't repel the moisture, it's the perfect breeding ground for mold.

Mold in Older Homes: The main sources of mold in older homes are window flashing and bathrooms. The paper window flashing used 20 years ago deteriorates over time and doesn't repel the moisture efficiently. You can easily see the mold - water rot on windows with 2x4 trim around the windows. The 2x4 trim is soft to the touch and wavy in appearance. Houses with stucco have the same paper window flashing that's deteriorating, but it is harder to see. If there's moisture trapped behind the window then the window flashing is deteriorating , it's the perfect breeding ground for mold. Bathrooms last about 10 - 15 years before showing any real signs of moisture problems. Leaky shower enclosures are the #1 cause of moisture problems in bathrooms. With plumbing leaks in second place. If there's moisture in the bathroom that doesn't dry out, then it's the perfect breeding ground for mold.

Mold in Newer Homes: The two main sources of mold in newer homes are window and roof flashing. Improper window flashing is common in new home construction, because builders are trying to cut cost by using inferior window flashing products or installing the window flashing incorrectly by using inexperienced workers. With the new air tight energy efficient homes the moisture is trapped in the window sill and is the perfect breeding ground for mold. Improper roof flashing is common in new home construction, because of the current worker's installing the roof flashing. You can't expect a worker who was picking tomatoes last year to properly install roof flashing on your new home.

Remove Mold: To remove mold in buildings SBE Builders uses a 10% bleach solution on all exposed framing to kill mold before reconstruction begins.

Reconstruction: After reconstruction begings and the building is properly dried out, SBE Builders uses a moisture meter to check the moisture content of the building in all walls and floors. If any of the sheetrock has a moisture content greater than 0.5% we remove the sheetrock and use a 10% bleach solution on the wall or ceiling framing. Once the wall or ceiling framing has dried out we check the moisture content of the framing again to make sure it's below 15%. SBE Builders controls drywall cracks and nail pops by using new framing lumber and materials with a maximum moisture content of 15%. Framing lumber with a moisture content of 19% or more is prone to mold growth. Sheetrock with a moisture content greater than 0.5% is prone to mold growth..

Ventilation: With bathrooms or laundryroom reconstruction we alway install new Energy Star qualified fans, with combination light/fan. The new Energy Star qualified fans all use compact flourescent bulbs for longer lasting bulbs and lower electricity costs over the lifetime of the bulb and help reduce moisture problems before they become mold problems.

California is # 7 in mold growth in the USA :  Moisture Penetration—Not Climate—the Leading Cause of Mold

• Awareness: Be aware of all new building materials and codes that effect the entire structure.
• Understanding: Have a complete understanding of the construction sequences that effect the entire structure.
• Optimizations: Pursue ideas that optimize the construction sequences that effect the entire structure.